Process and apparatus for separation of the components of a mixture of more than twocomponents



Dec. 14, 1937. H. WALCH ET AL 1 2,102,297

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATION OF THE COMPONENTS OF A MIXTURE OFMORE THAN TWO COMPONENTS Filed May 11, 1931 F/G. 2. F/6.3.

Patented Dec. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,102,291 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FORSEPARA- TlON OF THE TURE OF MORE signers,

Laval Separator Company, a corporation of New Jersey COMPONENTS OF AMIX- THAN TWO COMPONENTS Henri Walch and Jean Prlal,

by memo assignments,

Paris, France, as-

to The De New York, N. Y.,

Application May 11, 1931, Serial No. 536,500 In Sweden June 11, 1930 7Claims.

In centrifugal separators of the usual types, which as a rule areconstructed for separation of two liquids of different specificgravities, the separated components are discharged from the bowl overlevel outlets whose radial positions are fixed. If however, three ormore liquids of ,dif ferent specific gravities are to be continuouslydischarged from the bowl, the construction of a corresponding number oflevel outlets'ofiers very considerable difiiculties. In addition, thebowl will also be very sensitive to variations in the specific gravitiesof the components of the liquids.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for securingeffective separation and separate discharge of more than two components.

Inthe drawing, which shows preferred embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a centrifugal bowl, embodying theinvention, which is adapted for continuous separation of three liquidsof different specific gravities.

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail sections illustrating diflerent modificationsof one of the heavier liquid discharging means. 1

The invention is mainly characterized by elements in the bowl wall ofsuch a construction that they allow but one of the two heaviercomponents. of the original mixture which are being displaced towardsthe periphery of the bowl to stream out, the lightest component 01' themixture discharging in known manner through outlets close to therotation center of the bowl. The other of the two heavier components ofthe original mixture which are displaced toward the periphery of the.bowl (which component may be the heaviestcomponent or the next heaviestcomponent of the original three components) discharges through outletsarranged in known manner at a radial zone outside the outlet for thelightest component.

The bowl illustrated in Fig. 1 is especially constructed for separatingoil from a mixture of goudrons and sulphuric acid, which are residuesalter the refining, at the same time that the goudrons and sulphuricacid are separated from each other, and for-separately removing thesethree components. f these'three components, the oil has the lowestspecific gravity and the acid the highest specific gravity. The mixtureis led into the centrifugal bowl through a central feed tube 1 and thenstreams through channels 2 into a separating chamber 3, preferablyprovided with a liner of Irusto-conical discs l. In this chamber themixture .of liquids is at first separated into two ma n bulks, one ofwhich 'and the other of the two (01. 2334-2) lightest component;

consists exclusively of the heavier components. The lighter component,e. g., the oil, is displaced inward in the separating chamber anddischarges through level outlet 5, which may be regulable by well knownmeans. The two heavier components, e. g., the sulphuric acid and thegou-' drons, are displaced towards the periphery of the bowl under theinfluence of the centrifugal force. In the bowl wall 9 are outlets 6,which may be capillary nozzles, allow the escape of the sulphuric acidwith but very little or nothing of the goudrons, which have a higherviscosity than the sulphuric acid. The goudrons move inward throughchannels 1 and are removed from the bowl in known manner through outlet8, whlch may also be regulable in known manner.

With other mixtures it is, to arrange the nozzles in such a way that thenext heaviest component, with but very little or nothing of the heaviestcomponent, will escape through the nozzles, the heaviestliquiddischarging through an outlet of known type, for instance, a leveloutlet like outlet 8.

of course, possible Inthe specific mixture given as an example,

all three substances to be separated'are in liquid state. It must not beunderstood, however, that the process is limited to-substances withcomparatively low viscosity. In fact, substances of a consistencybetween that of a liquid and that of solids are separable in a bowlembodying the invention.

Figure 2 shows a special type of capillary nozzle in the bowl wall 9.The channel I 0, whose axis is at right angles to the rotation axis ofthe bowl, has, at its inner end, the shape of a conical valve seat II.The channel is partly occupied by a valve body l2, the inner part ofwhich has the shape of a cone l3 fitting on thevalve seat ll.

During the rotation of the centrifugal bowl the cones of the valve bodyare pressed outward-onto the valve seat so that capillary conicalthroughfiow channels are formed between the cone and the seat.

Figure 3 illustrates still another type of capillary nozzle in the bowlwall. The channel ll has, in this constructionya boring or countersunkportion I5 at the inner side of into the channel is the shank of a pinIthaving, at its inner end, a head ll. In the boring, surrounding theshank of the pin, are a number of thin ring-shaped (preferably .metal).discs ll. When the centrifugal bowl rotates, the pin is thrown outwardby the centrifugal force and of such a construction as tothe wall.Extending presses together the discs I 8, so that the desired capillarychannels are formed between them.

The effect of the centrifugal force acting on the valve bodies l2 or thepins 16 may be increased by means of springs, arranged in such a mannerthat they press the said parts outward. The same efl'ect may be reachedby the aid of screws forcing these.parts outward.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to theseparation of the particular mixture of oil, goudrons and acidspecified, since it is applicable to the separation of any mixture ofmore than two components whereof the two heavier components are ofdifl'erent specific gravities or of substantially different viscosities.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim and desire to.protect by Uetters Patent is: a v

1. A centrifugal bowl for continuous separation and separate dischargeof the components of a 1 mixture of morethan two components, comprisingoutlet means for one of the heavier components positioned relativelynear the rotation axis of the bowl and communicating directly with theinterior of the bow] at only its peripheral zone, and outlet means forthe other heavier component, the last named outlet means comprising ahole providing a comparatively free opening when the bowl is stationaryand means adapted to so throttle the hole during rotation ofthe bowl asto provide an outlet of capillary character.

2. A centrifugal bowl for continuous separation and separate dischargeof the components of a mixture of more than two components, comprisingoutlet means for one of the heavier components positioned relativelynear the rotation axis of the bowl, and outlet. means for the otherheavier component, the last named outlet means 'comprising afrusto-conlcal valve seat and a valve having a frusto-conical partsubstantially conforming in shape to the valve seat and which isarranged to press outward due to centrifugal action onto said valve seatduring rotation of the bowl to form a capillary throughflow channelbetween the valve and its seat.

3. A centrifugal bowl for continuous separation and separate dischargeof the components of a mixture of more than two components, comprisingoutlet means for one of the heavier components positioned relativelynear the rotation axis of the bowl, and ,outlet means for the otherheavier component, the last named outlet means com prising a countersunkrecess, a headed pin, and

ringeshaped discs sleeved on the pin between its head and the base ofthe recess and arrange to be pressed together by centrifugal actionduring the rotation of the bowl to form capillary channels between them.

4. The process of separating a mixture of more than two constituents ofwhich one of the heavier constituents is a relatively free flowingliquid and the-other of the heavier constituents is a relatively viscousmaterial, which comprises subjecting the mixture to centrifugal force,effecting separate discharge of the three constituents by sothrottllngthe discharge through which the two I heavier constituents tend toescape as to allow the escape therethrough of only the more free flowingof the two heavier constituents and compel separate outflow of the otherheavier constituent. i

5. A centrifugal bowl for continuous separation and separate dischargeof a mixture oi." three constituents one of the two heavier of which isa relatively free flowing liquid and the other a relatively viscousmaterial, said bowl having out-- lets, relatively near the axis,communicating respectively with'the central portion and peripheralportion of the separating'space of the bowl, said bowl having" an outletin. its peripheral wall through which both of said heavier constituentstend to escape, said peripheral outlet being formed by memberspresenting opposing surfaces and which are movable one relatively toanother to afford between said surfaces an outlet of variable size butwhich, under the influenceof centrifugal force, tend to close and soclosely contact as to provide an outlet of capillary character throughwhich only the relatively free flowing liquid can escape, therebycompelling the discharge of the other heavier ingredient through theoutlet, relatively near the bowls axis, communicating with theperipheral portion of the separating space of the bowl.

6. A centrifugal bowl for continuous separation and separate dischargeof a mixture of two constituents one of which is a relatively freeflowing fluid and the other of which is a relatively viscous material,said bowl having an outlet in its peripheralwall though which bothconstituents tend to escape and an outlet, relatively near its axis,which communicates directly with only that part outlet being formed bymembers presenting op posing surfaces and which are movable onerelatively to another to aii'qrd between said surfaces an outlet ofvariable size but which, under the influence of centrifugal force, tendto close and I so closely contact as to provide an outlet oftcapilducedby the treatment of oil with a mineral acid to thereby form a mixture ofoil, acid sludge. and

free acid, the acid sludge and free acid being of substantially greaterspecific gravity than of the bowl adjacent its periphery, saidperipheral the oil and the acid sludge being compara-- tivelyviscous andthe tively free-flowing, which comprises subjecting the mixture tocentrifugal force and effecting separate discharge of the threeconstituents by so throttlingthe discharge through which the acid sludgeand free acid tend to escape as to allow the pe of only the relativelyfree-flowing acid and sludge.

- HENRI WALCH.

JEAN PRnLAz.

free acid "being relampel separate outflow of the acid

